In order to create a resilient Commonwealth and a successful future, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised his government’s strong commitment to young empowerment on Tuesday. He advocated for entrepreneurial support, partnership building, and a focus on youth education and skill development.

By keeping young people at the centre of governance and decision-making, we can set the standard for entrepreneurship, partnership building, and giving education and skill development first priority. The prime minister stated this during the opening session of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance conference here, “This will guarantee that our future is in the hands of an empowered young generation.”

As a founding member, Pakistan placed a high value on the Commonwealth and its institutions, which provided a crucial forum for reaching agreements and establishing collaborations, the prime minister said as he greeted the participating delegates from a number of countries.

The future is in the hands of the young, as more than 60% of Commonwealth residents are under 30. Access to contemporary technology and rigorous training are necessary to empower and equip these hands. They will be able to forge a peaceful, forward-thinking, and wealthy future as a result.

With almost 70% of the population under 30, Pakistan, he claimed, fully grasped the potential because the difficulty could be readily turned into fantastic opportunity.

Stressing the indisputable contribution of young people to development, he informed the global assembly that he has always made the productive employment of young people a top priority and has made considerable efforts to achieve this objective.

“The government is dedicated to empowering young people through transformative programs like the Youth Program, which empowers millions of boys and girls throughout Pakistan,” he said.

Shehbaz Sharif noted the establishment of Daanish Schools, which were now being extended to Islamabad, Azad Kashmir (AJK), and remote regions of Balochistan, as well as the establishment of the Punjab Education Endowment Fund, which was created to give stipends to high achievers for their education, during his tenure as Punjab chief minister.

Additionally, around 600,000 computers were given to high achievers, which proved to be beneficial resources for both earning and distant study during the COVID period. He also mentioned a new initiative that distributed laptops to high achievers from low-income families in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and AJK.

He encouraged young people to “dream boldly, act courageously, work tirelessly, and have faith and spirit of conviction” in order to work hard and contribute to the development of the country. Keep in mind that you are the ones who are paving the way for our future, our sons and daughters. Your expertise and experience will enable you to realise unrealised potential and secure Pakistan’s development, advancement, and well-being.

The prime minister had earlier presented awards to the top performers and administered the oath to the members of the recently established National Youth Council.